Dispassion and Detachment

Dispassion and Detachment
by Atman Nityananda

Dispassion

Dispassion is a means to maintain ataraxia, equanimity, and serenity of mind and heart.

Dispassion means to remain indifferent to sensory objects and not react emotionally and mentally to what is happening. When seeing pleasant objects, we should not be attracted to them or desire them, and when seeing unpleasant things, we should not react with aversion, thereby remaining in ataraxia, equanimity, and serenity.

Dispassion is achieved through purity of mind and heart, the predominance of the sattva quality, the great weakening or eradication of egoic tendencies (lust, greed, pride, jealousy, gluttony, anger, hatred, guilt, etc.), discrimination, non-attachment, indifference or lack of desire for sense objects and experiences, and devotion and surrender to the Atman, Truth, or God.

When dispassion is developed:

• Our mind is not interested in sensory objects and experiences.
• It does not think and plan how to get from the external world pleasure, sense gratification and satisfaction, fame, security, superiority, commodities, or happiness by external means.
• It does not react to sensory impressions (pleasant and unpleasant).
• It does not project anything onto them (pleasure, happiness, security, value, etc.) and does not identify with or attach to them.

Hence, it remains equanimous, serene, introverted, clear, one-pointed, and steadily focused on the peaceful silence of Consciousness within us.

Detachment

Depending on one’s definition of the terms detachment and dispassion and one’s view of them, some consider them to be equal. For me, in my experience and understanding, detachment and dispassion share certain common elements, but they are still somewhat different.

Detachment primarily means
not identifying with and not fully engaging with sensory impressions and experiences, and
not identifying with or engaging with vital, mental, and emotional expressions and processes.

To the extent that we have developed detachment, we are able to remain aware of inner silence and attentively observe sensory impressions and psychological expressions without identifying with them, keeping our mind calm, equanimous, serene, and attentive.

Detachment, like dispassion, helps us to avoid identification with sense objects and happenings and reacting to them. When there is a reaction, it helps us avoid identification with psychological reactions (thoughts, emotions, impulses, and everything that manifests in our psychology) and remain a silent witness to them.

The ‘secret’ to a plentiful life, a life of harmony, happiness and contentment is to have a sattvic mind free from desires and ego and to live in every moment in conscious contact with our true Self (Consciousness).

🌺 Peace, Love, Harmony